Having landed in hip-hop’s golden era, it seems the band set up and jammed in a makeshift studio with assorted rap legends. Which is when things got really trippy. And ill. In fact ill-trippy. Although, clearly, the Fab Four eventually got a ticket to ride back to ’64, the music forged in that time-out-of-time was thought to have been lost. Until now. This album reveals the band journeyed through the doors of perception much earlier than previously thought and worked with everyone from P.E. to Spoonie Gee, Tha Liks to Hieroglyphics and Large Professor to Salt n Pepa. Among others. Frankly, it’s a helter skelter ride from ‘mop-top hip-hop’ to ‘let it beats’ – or perhaps we should think of it as ‘blunted rappers mashed with drug-fried band’ which – after all – sounds much like an album title itself. There cannot be a single earthly reason for you not to turn on, tune in and download the music, the images, the ‘liner notes’ and the instrumentals below in assorted formats. Get on it! Soundcloud preview mix players below links…

http://boingboing.net/2015/02/08/an-adventure-to-pepperland-thr.html/feed0Signed copy of Beatles' Please Please Me sells for $36,655http://boingboing.net/2014/10/03/signed-copy-of-beatles-pleas.html
http://boingboing.net/2014/10/03/signed-copy-of-beatles-pleas.html#commentsFri, 03 Oct 2014 22:00:40 +0000http://boingboing.net/?p=335844 A copy of the Beatles' 1963 album Please Please Me, signed by all four Moptops sold for $36,655 on eBay.]]>

When it comes to memorabilia, you can't do much better than early Beatles items. They're an iconic group with millions of loyal fans worldwide. Even fifty-years-later their music continues to have a demand. When you consider their huge fan base and small amount of early memorabilia available. Finding a fully-signed record in mint condition (fifty-years later) is exceptionally rare.

This actually seems like a bargain. I'll bet this album will sell for 10 times as much in a decade.

The George Harrison Memorial Tree in Los Angeles, planted in memory of the Beatles guitarist, was killed by beetles.

]]>

The George Harrison Memorial Tree in Los Angeles, planted in memory of the Beatles guitarist, was killed by beetles. ]]>

http://boingboing.net/2014/07/22/beetles-kill-beatles-memoria.html/feed0The Muppet Show: The Bug Band play The Beatleshttp://boingboing.net/2014/04/24/sesame-street-the-bug-band-pl.html
http://boingboing.net/2014/04/24/sesame-street-the-bug-band-pl.html#commentsThu, 24 Apr 2014 17:13:08 +0000http://boingboing.net/?p=299245
The Bug Band performs "She Loves You" on The Muppet Show in 1979. According to the Muppet Wiki, they were a nameless group until Kermit told them they needed a moniker.]]>

The Bug Band performs "She Loves You" on The Muppet Show in 1979. According to the Muppet Wiki, they were a nameless group until Kermit told them they needed a moniker. They suggested "The Grateful Dead" and "The Who." (via Experimental Music on Children's TV)]]>

http://boingboing.net/2014/04/24/sesame-street-the-bug-band-pl.html/feed0Winner of the Remix "The Fifth Beatle" giveawayhttp://boingboing.net/2014/04/17/winner-of-the-remix-the-fift.html
http://boingboing.net/2014/04/17/winner-of-the-remix-the-fift.html#commentsThu, 17 Apr 2014 21:58:46 +0000http://boingboing.net/?p=298246
I recently reviewed the incredible graphic novel biography, The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story, written by Vivek J. Tiwary and illustrated by Andrew C.]]>
I recently reviewed the incredible graphic novel biography, The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story, written by Vivek J. Tiwary and illustrated by Andrew C. Robinson and Kyle Baker. (It was just nominated for two Eisner awards!)

Last week I announced that Wink (a paper book review website that my wife Carla Sinclair edits) was holding a giveaway of the rare signed, numbered, slipcased "Limited Edition" of The Fifth Beatle, which is limited to 1500 copies, signed by all three creators and comes with an exclusive tip-in page of art. Entrants to the giveaway were asked to write their own text for the word balloons in the panel above. (Clockwise L-R John Lennon, George Harrison, Brian Epstein, Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney. NOTE: John has 2 balloons.)

The entries were judged by Vivek J. Tiwary himself, and he selected a winner for the limited edition and a runner-up for a regular edition.

Winner: Frunker

A: okay guys, the show was amazing but I really need a shower. NOW.
B: so put your holy light on the world mighty John and show us the way home!
C: "And God made two great lights, the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night"
D: guys this is actually a van, not a church.
E: so...let there be light!
F: Finally. Thank God.

Runner Up: audiochunk

A: One sweet dream
B: Pick up the bags and get in the limousine
C: Soon we'll be away from here
D: Step on the gas and wipe that tear away
E: One sweet dream came true today
F: Yes it did...

http://boingboing.net/2014/04/17/winner-of-the-remix-the-fift.html/feed017-year-old plays side two of Abbey Road with various instrumentshttp://boingboing.net/2014/04/09/17-year-old-plays-side-two-of.html
http://boingboing.net/2014/04/09/17-year-old-plays-side-two-of.html#commentsWed, 09 Apr 2014 19:00:46 +0000http://boingboing.net/?p=296612[Video Link] 17-year-old Dylan Gardner says: "In honor of the Beatles breakup on April 10, 1970, I decided to cover the entire second side of their last album, Abbey Road, with different instruments for 15-second intervals.]]>

[Video Link] 17-year-old Dylan Gardner says: "In honor of the Beatles breakup on April 10, 1970, I decided to cover the entire second side of their last album, Abbey Road, with different instruments for 15-second intervals. Abbey Road has always stuck with me as an incredible ending note for a great career that the Beatles have put together. It's just me around the house having a blast covering my heroes!"

I asked Dylan how he made these videos (which will appear on his Instagram feed). He answered: "The Beatles have been such a huge part of my musical upbringing, so I couldn't think of a better afternoon than stealing my parents' new video camera and running around my empty house covering the better side of Abbey Road in Instagram-sized videos. I'd tie a zip tie around the camera to hold angles as I grabbed as many miscellaneous instruments as I could. I made a mess of the house, but the bright side is this isn't the last time I'll do that..."

Dylan's debut album, Adventures in Real Time is set to be released on May 13th.]]>

http://boingboing.net/2014/04/09/17-year-old-plays-side-two-of.html/feed0Remix "The Fifth Beatle" - win a signed limited edition!http://boingboing.net/2014/04/07/remix-the-fifth-beatle-w.html
http://boingboing.net/2014/04/07/remix-the-fifth-beatle-w.html#commentsMon, 07 Apr 2014 19:01:40 +0000http://boingboing.net/?p=296417I recently reviewed The Fifth Beatle: The Brain Epstein Story, written by Vivek J. Tiwary and illustrated by Andrew C.]]>I recently reviewed The Fifth Beatle: The Brain Epstein Story, written by Vivek J. Tiwary and illustrated by Andrew C. Robinson and Kyle Baker. It is one of the great graphic novels, destined to be a classic. Here's what I wrote in my review on Wink:

The Fifth Beatle is Vivek J. Tiwary’s fascinating, cinematic account of Beatles manager Brian Epstein’s determination to ignore the chorus of rejections and take The Beatles far beyond where any musical group had gone before — to a place occupied by a handful of religious figures and charismatic world leaders. And Epstein accomplished it, despite the fact that he was Jewish in a culture of strong anti-semitism, and gay when being gay was a felony. That he was able to do what he did in six years (he died of an accidental drug overdose when he was 32 years old) is astounding.

Wink is holding a giveaway of the rare signed, numbered, slipcased "Limited Edition" of The Fifth Beatle, which is limited to 1500 copies, signed by all three creators and comes with an exclusive tip-in page of art. To win, all you have to do is write your own text for the word balloons in the panel above. (Clockwise L-R John Lennon, George Harrison, Brian Epstein, Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney. NOTE: John has 2 balloons.) The entries will be judged by Vivek J. Tiwary himself, and he will select the winner. The contest ends at noon Pacific time on April 10, 2014, the day Brian Epstein is being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Good luck!

http://boingboing.net/2014/01/14/the-beatles-in-comics.html/feed0Gweek podcast 126 - The Real Fifth Beatlehttp://boingboing.net/2013/12/23/gweek-podcast-126-the-real-f.html
http://boingboing.net/2013/12/23/gweek-podcast-126-the-real-f.html#commentsTue, 24 Dec 2013 00:57:14 +0000http://boingboing.net/?p=276067In each episode of Gweek, I invite a guest or two to join me in a discussion about recommended media, apps, and gadgets.]]>In each episode of Gweek, I invite a guest or two to join me in a discussion about recommended media, apps, and gadgets. My guests were Boing Boing’s software developer Dean Putney and Rob Reid, an entrepreneur and author of the science fiction novel Year Zero. We talked about Dean's Kickstarter-funded book, the Walter Koessler Project; Sony RX-100, which Rob finds to be "an absolutely amazing pocket camera (see these fantastic Rolling Stones photos he took using the camera);" Starship Century, a fascinating compendium of scientific essays focused on considering the neari-ish term plausibility of interstellar travel; the Basis self-tracking watch (the first one that takes your pulse 24/7); a stunningly beautiful comic book biography called The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story; the newly redesigned Reddit.tv; and a new cartoon series by Adventure Time's Rebecca Sugar, Steven Universe.

I finally had some time to put together a mix for all of you who've been asking over the years of my beatles/mccartney stuff for tour. It's about 2hrs long. I hope you enjoy. I've had the best time in the history of the world making the tracks and putting it together.

It starts off at 88bpm and speeds up until it loops around at 176 (88bpm) completing the cycle.

It's the first time I've shared this stuff in bulk, I hope you all enjoy it.

Here is four years of my Beatles/macca mixes.

I am the opening act for Paul McCartney (paulmccartney.com). This a collection of some of my favorite remixes I've made over the 4 years touring with paul. I want to thank Brian Liesegang and Cory Nitta for help tweaking and ironing out a bunch of these mixes and most importantly Paul McCartney and his amazing crew for giving me the opportunity to be able to play with him on tour. It is the best job, with the nicest boss in the world.

here is a tracklisting though most of the songs are my own personal and ashtar command mixes (brian liesegang, cory nitta)

Imagine a world where Beatlemania was against the law -- recordings scratched onto medical X-rays, merchant sailors bringing home contraband LPs, spotty broadcasts taped from western AM radio late in the night. This was no fantasy world populated by Blue Meanies but the USSR, where a vast nation of music fans risked repression to hear the defining band of the British Invasion.

In August, 1962, Leslie Woodhead filmed a two-minute cameo of four unknown kids bashing out rock ’n’ roll in a Liverpool cellar. Not long after, The Beatles were conquering the world.

How the Beatles Rocked the Kremlin by Leslie Woodhead tells the improbable story of how the music of the Beatles helped bring down the Soviet Union -- plus eight never-before-seen photos of the Beatles from 1963.

Woodhead, a Cold War–era spy, compiles over three decades of research to demonstrate the group’s impact on the Soviet psyche. The music of John, Paul, George, and Ringo was forbidden, but their music was irresistible. It blasted open the door to Western culture, fomenting a cultural revolution.

How the Beatles Rocked the Kremlin tells the unforgettable, wild, and unmistakably Russian story of Soviet kids who discovered that all you need is Beatles.

]]>http://boingboing.net/2013/04/24/how-the-beatles-rocked-the-kre.html/feed3Five Beatles covershttp://boingboing.net/2013/02/13/five-beatles-covers.html
http://boingboing.net/2013/02/13/five-beatles-covers.html#commentsWed, 13 Feb 2013 18:58:49 +0000http://boingboing.net/?p=212670Every week on Bedazzled, Derek presents some of his favorite 45 records. This time, he has a collection of five unusual and pleasant Beatles covers, including Day Tripper, Back in the U.S.S.R., Norwegian Wood, Across the Universe, and With a Little Help From My Friends.

Hailing from Baton Rouge, LA, John Fred had a MASSIVE hit with the amazing, Beatle-esque "Judy In Disguise" in 1967, but this veteran performer had a career in music stretching back to his teen years in the late '50s. One could easily be mistaken into thinking John was a black singer, as his heavy, deep south accent OOZES soul, and it's heard to great effect on this FUNKY cover of the song that opens The Beatles self titled 1968 LP, known forever as The White Album. The Playboy Band itself shows off how tight the group was, no doubt brought on by a decade of performing all over the south at Fraternities, sock hops, opening slots, and basically anywhere they could make a living as journeyman musicians.

The Beatles tune "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!" was inspired by an 1843 circus poster that John Lennon purchased at an antiques store and hung in his music room. London designer and Beatles superfan Peter Dean recreated this poster in obsessive detail. He went so far as to collaborate with a wood-engraving artist and had the final poster letterpress printed. Now you can own it too, for £245.00 GBP. "Kite"]]>

http://boingboing.net/2012/10/09/replicating-john-lennons-m.html/feed4Tim & Rosemary Leary, John Lennon & Yoko Ono in conversation in 1969 - released for 1st time todayhttp://boingboing.net/2012/06/25/tim-leary-john-lennon-and-yo.html
http://boingboing.net/2012/06/25/tim-leary-john-lennon-and-yo.html#commentsMon, 25 Jun 2012 12:00:12 +0000http://boingboing.net/?p=167486Michael Horowitz*, Timothy Leary's longtime archivist, has permitted the Timothy Leary Archives website to publish a transcription of a tape recorded conversation between Dr.]]>Michael Horowitz*, Timothy Leary's longtime archivist, has permitted the Timothy Leary Archives website to publish a transcription of a tape recorded conversation between Dr. Leary and his wife Rosemary, and John Lennon and Yoko Ono, made during John and Yoko's Bed-In for Peace in Montreal, May 1969. Tim had given it to Michael, in 1984, as a present for finishing Tim's bibliography.

The conversation took place during John and Yoko’s week-long Bed-In, on May 29th, 1969. This is just a few months before John would leave the Beatles and move with Yoko to the U.S. where they were closely monitored by the FBI and threatened with deportation, and ten months before Tim would be put in prison for possessing a minuscule amount of marijuana, and Rosemary would be putting on benefits to raise money for his appeal.

This transcript was intended to be added to a previously published piece, “Thank God for the Beatles” (The Beatles Book, 1968), an essay about the Beatles as "evolutionary agents sent by God, endowed with mysterious power to create a new human species," to be published in an anthology of Tim's shorter writings, but the project was abandoned.

The transcript, as far as we can tell, has remained unpublished until now.

]]>http://boingboing.net/2012/06/25/tim-leary-john-lennon-and-yo.html/feed7Every Beatles song ever, all played at once: All Together Nowhttp://boingboing.net/2011/11/20/every-beatles-song-ever-all-p.html
http://boingboing.net/2011/11/20/every-beatles-song-ever-all-p.html#commentsSun, 20 Nov 2011 15:54:05 +0000http://boingboing.net/?p=130598All Together Now - Everything the Beatles ever did. by ramjac

Ramjac, a British DJ, has produced a mashup of the whole Beatles catalogue.

Ramjac, a British DJ, has produced a mashup of the whole Beatles catalogue. Ramjac's mix, "All Together Now," layers every single Beatles song atop one another, in reverse order of length, so that for the first few seconds, all you hear is "Revolution 9" (the longest song in the songbook), then "Hey Jude" atop it, and "She's So Heavy," and then more and more, until it crashes all together at the last note, with 226 tracks all colliding.